Screening TRPV1 antagonists for the treatment of pain: lessons learned over a decade

The capsaicin receptor TRPV1, a polymodal nociceptor whose expression is up-regulated in a number of painful inflammatory disorders, represents a promising therapeutic target for pain relief. Potent small molecule TRPV1 antagonists are now undergoing clinical trials in patients with inflammatory or neuropathic pain. This review focuses on the multiplicity of factors regulating this channel and on their contributions to the emerging complexity of responses to TRPV1 and partial antagonists. For example, it is now clear that antagonists of capsaicin response can also antagonize, have no effect, or stimulate response to heat or protons. The complexity of TRPV1 regulation affords the potential to optimize agents for a specific therapeutic indication. An encouraging advance is the dissection of therapeutic efficacy of antagonists from induction of hyperthermia, a side effect that initially had raised concerns about the suitability of systemically administered TRPV1 antagonists for therapy.

To discuss the challenges facing the development of clinically useful TRPV1 antagonists based on our experience and a comprehensive review of the literature.

TRPV1 is a polymodal receptor. Some antagonists block all modalities of TRPV1 stimulation whereas others are more selective in their pharmacological profile. A number of antagonists can, conversely, potentiate certain modes of TRPV1 activation (e.g., protons and heat). The selectivity of TRPV1 antagonists is species-dependent, posing a problem for extrapolation from animal models to patients. At present, this rich pharmacology of TRPV1 antagonists complicates drug development but for the future it promises great opportunities for drug design.